Friday Five: because I'm a 12 year old boy.

I've been completely swamped this week,

Visitors, work, and viewing a bit' of internet cheek. 

I loved a particular post about the subject of poo. 

If you're kind of a 12 year old boy, you'll love the rest too.

1. 

Funny 

2.

From Here

3.

Or Here

4. 

5.

Favorite-est

So, basically I've wasted a lot of time this week. And you? What have you done?

A winner. A SECRET. A birthday.

1.

Holla' ya'll! We have a WINNER for the head shot contest.

Congratulations Leigh Covington! 

(I'll be contacting you to set up your shooting time. Start digging through your closet for awesome outfits. Or go to Nordstroms. Nordy's is my fav.)

2. 

My secret: I once got a fake ID so I could go clubbing. Sorry Mom, I've failed you. Truth is, the ID was a lame card stock knockoff and the security guy at the club could totally tell. He let me in anyway, but told me to stay away from the bar and out of trouble. I was good with that because all I wanted to do was DANCE. (Cue Abba, Dancing Queen).

3. 

My boys had their birthday's last week. I had them almost exactly two years apart. So basically for one week in March I'm an insane shooting, baking, birthday-planning Momma. 

Inspired to Write-Free Writing Workshops

If you live in Utah and you haven't heard about the Orem Library Free Writing and Blogging workshop, then you're seriously missing out on something spectacular. Don't fret though. There is still time left to pop on over and check them out. 

My good friend SOPHISTIMOM (name drop much?) will be presenting on March 29 at 7:00pm

You can check it out below. 

Are there any writing workshops going on in your neck of the woods?
If not, where do you go for inspiration?

Secret 25 of 100

There's something about nice, simple fractions that makes me want to celebrate today! A quarter of my life's secrets are now exposed for all the Internet to see. Ur . . . that doesn't sound as exciting as I first imagined it would. But I'm not a quitter. 

So here goes SECRET number TWENTY FIVE. 

One summer, a cute golden-hared boy asked me out on a group date. Thrilled, I spent hours trying on every combination of shorts and summer tops that I owned. By the time Golden-boy came to pick me up, my room looked like it was the epicenter for a 8.1 earthquake, and I still wasn't totally ready. 

Ugh. I didn't want to leave Golden waiting. So I rushed out the door.

We went out to dinner (with our group), and then a movie (with our group). But while the other couples were fun, I really just wanted to hang out with Golden--without our group. 

After the movie, someone suggested a bonfire nearby. So Golden and I piled into ONE car with our entire group. At first I was bugged. But then, I realized being squashed up next to Golden with our limbs tangled in a tight space wasn't all that bad. Nope, I didn't mind the group thing at all by then.

We arrived at the destination, and slowly people started exiting the car, until Golden and I were the only two left. 

He leaned in close, the warmth of his breath brushing my cheek. "Erin," he said.

"Yes?" My heart fluttered to a frenzy. If I turned just an inch, his lips would be close enough to kiss.

"Um, I think my leg is velcro-ed to yours."

I pulled back, blinked a couple times. "What?"

He ran his hand over my exposed shin. So un-romantic. "Don't you shave? I swear my leg hairs were sticking to yours. They're like the straight end of the velcro . . . "

At this point I tuned him out as he explained his ridiculous velcro theory in which my straight leg hairs and his curly leg hairs might dangerously stick together. 

Seriously? I sat there, lost for words, and utterly mortified.

In my pre-date prep-frenzy, I had forgotten to shave. And I'm not talking days. I'm talking, I just got home from a week long camp. 

And Golden didn't waste a moment. He was out of that car and sharing his findings with our entire group before I could say, "holy hairy legs."

Needless to say, I didn't go out with Golden again. 

Do you have any shaving secrets you want to share?

Humps and a sorta weird but kinda cool CONTEST

Today is Hump day. I'm in somewhat of a slump.
I should be writing, but I've been spending time shooting and editing.

I figure, why not shoot some more. Maybe if I shoot till I'm sick of holding a camera, I'll want to write instead of shoot.

Thus: the not-so-normal writer's blog contest. 

I'm not giving away a book, a critique, or an agent pitch. (For that you need to hang with me at any given writer's conference. It's worked for all my other friends. Did you check out Julianne Donaldson's post on Peggy's blog? Yep, I practically kicked that puke-head girl out of Jaime's truck when I was the gal sitting between her and her future agent. Alright. So maybe it wasn't all my good luck mojo. Judo's practically a ninja when it comes to writing leave-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat-in-tears romance. But I still like to think that hanging with me = Agent and book deals!)

Sorry for the digression, back to my CONTEST.

I'm giving away a headshot!

Most of the time I shoot pics like this: 

But now and then I shoot pics like this: 

Contest details:

Enter to win a chance at a free photo shoot with me for a spectacular headshot that will make you look unbelievably cool and author-esque. After the photo shoot you'll receive a DVD with your high resolution images, and a release to print and enlarge.

Disclaimer: If you don't live in Utah (where I'm offering the photo shoot), you can hold your winnings for up to a year. Then, if I'm out near you, or you come this way  you can then have your shoot. Or if you're really nice, you can gift your winnings to another person that lives in Utah!

How to enter: 

You can have multiple entries by: 

1. Follow this blog AND leave a comment. 

2. Post about this weird, but sorta cool contest on your blog. 

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about it. 

4. Buy me a Coke Zero . . . ha ha...ok, this one isn't for real. But you can Facebook about my contest. 

Leave a link to each of the things you've done in the comment portion of my blog so I can go creepily stalk er, check it out. 

The contest will be open from NOW until March 24. 

Happy Entering!

Secret 24 of 100

I'm a geek. 

I know, surprising right? Here's the thing. I feel like I just hit puberty--in the geekiest way possible.

Evidence? Here it is: 

1. I've noticed a strange smell. As in body odor smell coming from my pits! Shocking, I know. I've never worn deodorant. Even after a sweat-drenching workout, my pits don't stink. That is, up till a few months ago they didn't. But things are changing. And by "things" I mean my hormones, because every now and then my underarms smell. 

2. Zits. In high school I had three. I remember them well because they were traumatic. But as of late, it seems like three zits have become my forehead's standard. Ewwww! It's so gross. Can you recommend a good face wash? Apparently my bar soap and water just aren't cutting it. 

3. I'm a brace-face. At first I was stoked about the idea of straightening my teeth and fixing my bite. I'm still stoked, but I'm not loving how un-awesome I look. Every time I look in the mirror I repeat, "This too shall pass."

4. My confidence is shaken. Usually I feel pretty good about who I am. But last night I spent an hour on the phone with crit-partner Jessie listening to her positive affirmations. Next to Stuart Smalley, Jessie is the best. 

Should we ever meet, make sure you keep my geekiness a secret . . . at least when we're talking face to face. Then I'll really feel like I've returned to high school

Inspired to Write - Change

Today I'm going to change. And not just in some abstract metaphorical, spiritual way. But in the tomorrow-mean-girls-will-call-me-metal-mouth way.

Confused? Here's the deal: 
When I'm not writing, I'm shooting people--mostly brides and grooms. You can check all that out HERE. Alright, enough self-promotion, back to the story. When a particular fabulous bride and groom said, "hey let's workout an awesome brace trade." I said, "Fo' sure!" (Conversation may have been dramatized for artistic purposes.)

Basically, I'm getting braces. 

Up until this morning I was stoked about the whole ordeal. Today, not so much. My insides are fluttery and panicked and disorganized. I'm a scrambled mess that's soon to be a brace face!

To the point: 

I was thinking about my characters and how they deal with change. Sure there's conflict in my book, but sometimes I overlook the physical manifestations that change (particularly stress) can cause in a person. Though I react to stress one way, I found that stress in other people doesn't always look the same. The helpguide.org is a great site for researching nearly anything. Stress reactions can be viewed in three ways:   

• Foot on the gas – An angry or agitated stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
• Foot on the brake – A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion.
• Foot on both – A tense and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated.

I'm usually one of the first two responses. But my characters aren't. I'll have to keep these ideas in mind when I'm writing.

What about you? 

How do you're characters deal with stress?

Credits: (http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm) 

Lucky 13!

First off, I want to say THANK YOU to all you guys that are new followers. I feel so happy, and weird, and weirdly happy about all your cyber-friendliness. I'm pumped to read blogs tomorrow and see what's going on in the blogger world. Today though, no reading for me.

Why?

Today is my lucky 13.
Mark, my hunky hubby, and I were married on this day thirteen years ago.

So if you'll excuse me, I have someone to go hang with. And when I say "hang" I really mean "make out" . . . and when I say "make out" I really mean we're going to the movies. Because that's what you do when you've been married for thirteen years.

Check you later.

Secret 23 of 100 . . .

And the secret is: 

I'm getting busy HERE

If you didn't catch that clever pun, I'm so excited to to be a guest blogger on Emily R. King's "Get Busy Writing" blog. Come on over and say hi. And while you're there, I'll share another secret.

Friday Five...leaving on a jet plane

I'm leaving on a jet plane, 

On Monday I'll be back again, 

The place I'm going is not a vacay top five, 

For plot settings, though, it might just jive!

 TOP Five Locations for Setting in a Book:

Hawaii's mythological history in a picturesque place,
Makes the perfect backdrop for a story well-paced.

The Sahara is a desert that's more dead than alive,
Already I spot conflict into which characters will dive.

Beth Revis wrote a book about great outer space,
Since then I've wanted to try my hand at an alien race.

But if Earth is my target, then I can't forget Africa,
A story about the wild where there is no traffic-a (I know...you're killing me smalls)

Last no matter the season, Alaska is a unique sight.
freakishly cold, but full of beauty like northern lights.

What are your favorite pics for story location?

writing inspiration - editing

A year and a half ago I wrote a book.

Three months ago, I re-wrote the same book.

A month ago, I revised the re-written book.

Now, I'm editing the revision of the re-written book.

And I'm starting to feel like my life is made up of Coke Zero and this:

Tips to stay sane and accomplish quality editing while you're in the throws of editing:

1. Take breaks. The longer you stare at the screen and re-read the same paragraph will only make you crazy. Sometimes a fresh look on a later day will help you see how to clearly clean up your sentences.

2. Don't delete. If you're not using track changes, then make sure you save each edit, so your earlier versions aren't destroyed. Sometimes you'll go back and find you liked your original better.

3. Share it. When you get stumped, pass it onto a friend or a beta-reader to flush out the issues.

4. Read. When you're boggled, pick up a good book. Sometimes reading someone's edited work helps you see where you're work lacks the finesse it needs.

Do you have any editing tips to share?  

The reason I didn't post yesterday...

I was busy all day creating a list, an order of sorts, that will help me figure out who I'll eliminate first down to the last after a world war turns our nation into a blood-thirsty dictatorship in which I'm then forced to kill you to bring food to my pathetic family and hovel of a home. 

These things are important to have thought out. You never know what's going to happen. 

My list would be something like this:
1. Girl from high school that called me Mcfatty-pants. (I'm still having a hard time getting over that one.)
2-1000. FB friends that aren't real-life friends.
1001. Then my writing buddies: Peggy, David, Rob, and Jason. (Sorry guys. I gotta eliminate the competition.)

Anyone you'd take out first? Last? 

Friday Five: motivation.

Five Things I do to Motivate Myself

Shoes

I love shoes like I love my hubby, 

Without them I might be a bit more tubby.

When I'm lacking motivation to exercise.

I get moving as soon as new shoes are my prize.

Cadbury Mini Eggs

You know those little chocolate, candy-shelled eggs.

They're the devil because they fatten my legs. 

So when I'm trying to write, but facebook lures me in,

I give myself one egg for each paragraph I fin---ish. (ok, so not the perfect rhyme. No judging.)

Music

Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in a rut, 

I have no motivation to get off my butt. 

Whether exercising, shooting, or trying to write, 

If I blast my iTunes, it gives me a boost in the night...or day. (again, no judging on the rhymes here)

Books

If it were up to me I would read all day long, 

I love books like a photographer loves a Fong. (Uh, it's a tupperware looking flash filter-random, I know.)

If I have something to do that's horrid and no fun, 

I promise myself reading time as soon as I'm done.

Now You

If you're reading my poems, you'll see this is the end, 

But I've only written four instead of five, my friend. 

That's because I want to know what you like to do

when you're lacking motivation and you feel like poo!

I have a friend who is always on time.

I have a friend that is always on-time or ten minutes early wherever he has to go. Ridiculous, right? Who does that?
Not me. No, not by a long shot. I was born with late genes. Something about my make-up has a love hate relationship with PROCRASTINATION.

In December I set a goal to finish my WIP by the end of February. This is kind of how that's going:

So, in other words, I'm not sure if I'm going to meet that deadline.

As Joey from friends would say, "How you doin?"

writing inspiration - M-I-C-K-E-Y MOUSE

I watched the Mickey Mouse Club, my parents took me to Disneyland, I've seen nearly all Disney movies ever made, and for me the ultimate vacation involves a day in one of the Disney parks.

It's no wonder that I think Walt Disney is a genius. If it weren't for the man's tenacity, creativity, and daring, my childhood would've been a sad state of kid affairs.

Disneyland may or may not be your ideal destination get-a-way, but I think we can all agree that the man created a legacy.

Walt believed, and said on many occasions, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

I believe this, but sometimes it's easy to forget.

I hope you have a great Tuesday. PURSUE AWAY!

(Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/walt_disney.html#ixzz1mzqmy4RY)

Secret 22 of 100

I'm the cat lady.

Well, I'm not actually the cat lady.
 (I'm not talking about the woman that had all that plastic surgery to look like a cat. I'm talking about the crazy lady that lives in your town and rescues a thousand flea-infested cats a year). 

My secret is I have a tendency to be an animal-rescue, cat-hording operation type of gal. I like to blame it on my bleeding heart, which to be honest, doesn't really bleed that much because I could give a rat's butt cheek about reptiles, amphibians, fish, talking birds, and bad drivers. But, I do have a soft spot in my heart for dogs and cats and other nice furry animals. When I was younger I wanted to be a Zoo Keeper because then I could have as many animals as I wanted. (That dream lasted until the day I saw an elephant poop. Do I still want to be a Zoo Keeper? Nah, not so much.)

Confession: Every time I drive past the animal shelter, I have an internal battle on whether I should stop or not.
If I could, I would alway stop. But then for sure I would be the cat lady with 1001 cats. That didn't work out so well for the last lady in my town that went that route, so I temper my desire to help out the less fortunate fur-friends and I've settle furbsession with my two dogs and one cat.

Are you an animal lover too?

Friday Five: Writers

It started with a bang, my Friday Five.

But then winter hit and it took a dive.

I stopped rhyming and my life turned gray.

It's clear now I need to spout lyrics every day. 

This Friday's post is about Writers I like. 

I'll start with Tehereh Mafi, who wrote about a psych....o

Her main character was in a mental institution, 

But when she met hottie-o-soldier, she found restitution. (No judging, it's a good rhyme.)

Then there's Marissa, who wrote the book Cinder, 

A fractured fairytale about a girl who never carries tinder, 

But instead works as a mechanic on robots and junk,

She's smart, and pretty, but her foot is a piece of clunk. 

I'm excited about Unearthly author, Cynthia Hand.

She finally wrote the sequel, Hallowed, and it's on my bed stand. 

Then there's an veteran, Mrs. Lois Lowry

Author of The Giver, her writing is clean and not flowery.

Last I love a newbie, who'll be publishing next year,

Peggy Eddleman is her name, go give her a cheer!

Reading update - Cinderella and Cyborgs?

Cinder by Marissa Meyer




My Take: 
This is the book I wanted to write, I should've wrote, but didn't write. And you know what, I'm glad. I'm estatic, in fact, because Marissa Meyer did it way better than I ever could. Her imagination must keep her up at night. 
Cinder's plot twists and hooks kept me reading from start to finish. I couldn't put the book down, and now I'm drooling for more. It's a fantastic twisted fairytale with a Sci-Fi depth that has me wanting to dig into the next installment. 


What They Said: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl... Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. (www.goodreads.com)


You Shouldn't read this if: 
You're absolutely intolerant of anyone with a prosthetic. 
You can't handle the awesomeness of a writer that would combine a fairytale with futuristic Sci-Fi-ness, Cyborgs, Mind control, and creepy, beautiful women.
You're illiterate. For obvious reasons.  

I have a friend who is a florist.

I have a friend who works part-time as a florist except for the first couple weeks in February. During that time she's full-time or over-time.

When I asked her what she thought boys should buy their sweethearts on Valentine's Day, her response was, "Absolutely nothing."

Her reasoning being that everything is too over-priced. If someone knows you love them, then they'll know you love them the next day when you buy the same bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates for half price.

And if you're asking me, I would want the boy who went with the latter. It shows he's smart, frugal, and still cares. 

Do you agree?

If you don't, that's cool (...or not...whatever, I'm not judging). But I think we can take something more from this. If you disagree with me, than it's safe to say that what some people see as cheap or uncaring, others see as smart, well-planned and reasonable. 

I recently read a novel where the main male character did not hold my interest. I thought he was boring, action-less, and a little too flowery. My friend, however, loved the main character. 

When I first started writing I was too concerned at making my character likable by all readers. But what I've found is that's impossible. If we want to create characters as real as our own friends, than it's safe to assume there are going to be personality conflicts with some readers. Hopefully not all (wink).

What characteristics do you like to see in a main character?

Writing Inspiration - I LOVE James A. Owen

First off, Happy Valentine's Day. May it be filled with chocolate and love.

Today I'm in a LOVEY mood so I'm going to lay on you something that inspired me.

This last weekend I attended LTUE, a symposium for writers, held at Utah Valley University. The keynote speaker was James A. Owen, an American comic book writer, illustrator, and author.  He was brilliant and I absolutely LOVED all that he shared. He spoke about his struggles in life and career, sharing stories that put my small trials to shameful silence. I sat in awe as this man spoke. He was insightful and truly inspiring.

I've found that writing can be a war, complete with battles that leave me feeling tattered and deficient. But hearing James speak about the process of achieving goals made me remember that anything is possible and anything can be attainable.

I walked away from James's lecture with a little more armor to wear during those writing battles. Here's my two favorite pieces of inspiration armor:

1. "If you really, really want to do something, no one can stop you. If you really don’t want to do something then no one can help you.
2. "Never sacrifice what you want the most for what you want the most at that moment." 

Thanks James for the word up! You've inspired me to keep on writing. 

Have you had ups and downs on your road to success? 

How do you fight those battles?